Recipe-Paula Deens' Courage Chili

I made Paula's Courage Chili today because I had all the ingredients on hand.

The reason she calls it Courage Chili is because....

"When I'm under stress and I sense that trouble's coming, I need to eat something hot, something substantial, and something that gives me what feels like strength and courage.  There's nothing' like dippin' into a bowlful of chili in such moments.  Chili's a nourishing rib-sticker;  you don't need no fancy food dishes when you need your strength.  Y'all need chili."

RECIPE

2 pounds lean ground beef

2 large onions, finely minced (about 2 cups)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt

3 T. chili powder

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. sugar

One 10 1/4 oz can condensed French onion soup

(I used dried onion soup mix and added water)

1 T. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. Tabasco sauce

One 28 oz can chopped tomatoes with juice

( I used crushed tomatoes)

two 16 oz cans kidney beans drained

(I used 1 can of pinto beans and one can of  white kidney beans)

Brown the ground beef with 1 1/2 cups of onions.  Add the garlic powder, alt, chili powder, oregano, sugar, soup, flour, and Tabasco.  Mix well and simmer for 1 hour covered, stirring occasionally.  Add the tomatoes and beans.  sir and simmer cover for 20 min. longer. 

When this is done you can add Fritos corn chips, onions, cheese and sour cream on it if you like. 

This was very, very good. 

seed markers

I am getting ready to plant my seeds in the peat pots and made some markers.

Recipe-Pork Chops with Carolina Rub

I needed some new inspiration for cooking, so I pulled out this cookbook that I hadn't used yet.

I bookmarked some recipes that looked good.

The first that I tried the other day was Pork Chops with Carolina Rub.

I had all the ingredients for the rub on hand.

INGREDIENTS

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp.paprika

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. salt.

6 center cut pork chops (6 ounces each)

1/4 cup barbecue sauce

1.  Prepare a grill for cooking over medium-high heat.  First, oil the grill rack.  If using a charcoal grill, pre-pare a solid bed of medium-hot coals.  If using a gas grill, preheat to high and close the lid, then open the lid and lower the heat to medium-high (you can hold your hand 1 to 2 inches above the grill level only 3 to 4 seconds.).

2.  In a bowl, combine the garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, paprika, chili powder, pepper and salt.  Rinse the pork shops and pat dry with paper towels.  Rub the pork with the spice mixture and let stand for 10 minutes.

3.  Place the pork on the grill rack.  If using a gas grill close the lid.  Cook the chops for 4 minutes on the first side, then turn and cook on the other side for 2 minutes.  Brush each chop with 1 T. barbecue sauce and cook until still slightly pink in the center (cut to test), about 2 minutes longer.  Serve immediately. 

Family gave this recipe a two thumbs up.

It was very good!

Enjoy

Book Review-Paula Deen...It Ain't All About the Cookin'

This book was written in 2007.  It was an enormously enjoyable book about her early life with her parents and grandparents, then her long rocky marriage and her long term agoraphobia. She wrote about the mistakes she made like having a 10 year relationship with a married man.  I loved how she took control of her life and became an entrepreneur at age 42 and we all know where it took her.  She used what she knew-cooking and baking and made it very profitable.  This was a quick and easy read.  I picked it up from the library on Wednesday evening and finished it Saturday morning.  She has included recipes that I will definitely give a try.

A little bit of spring

I have been pulling out some Easter decorations.  I had found these painted eggs a few years ago and love them.  I thought they looked so cute in the egg holders with feet.  It makes me smile when I look at them.

My friend Theresa and I went shopping in Columbus Ohio a couple of weekends ago.  I fell in love with this poppy plate.  It stands out really well on the black, tall bookcase.

I have also brought some white pieces out that look really good on the black background.  In the upper left corner is the leaning tower of Pisa.  It is really a spaghetti holder.  My dear Mother in Law had gotten it for me.  The vase was my Grandmothers. 

Have you put your Easter decorations out yet?

A great find

I found this book at the grocery store in the bargain bin at 50% off.

Who knows how they get there but it is definitely worth more.  Possibly because the cover was torn.

There are so many good ideas in this book "Bringing the Garden Indoors" by P. Allen Smith.

Some of the things that I liked:

1.  Buy forsythia bushes at the garden center that are in bloom and put them in a tall container inside the house and bring a burst of spring inside.  Then plant them when you are ready.

2.  Take tiny white lights and dispurse them in your landscaping and cover the cords with mulch for a little twinkling at night.

Here is a picture from the book.  These are found items from walks and the beach.  Putting them in pretty containers and displaying them on the mantle for a lot of nice texture and variety. 

getting ready

The other weekend we were at the store and I had decided what I needed to grow this year.

So I got my starting mixture.

I have picked out my wonderful packages of seeds.

My herbs, peat pots, caladium tubers.

This weekend I am going to pot them up and put them in the sun room to grow.

It's gonna be fabulous!

Cardboard

In my 3-D design class for the last 3 weeks the assignment has been to take an object and make it out of cardboard.  I asked some fellow students if I could show some of their designs .

I was skeptical about the project but was amazed at what people came up with.

Here is a Bull Head

This is a window with beautiful flowers cascading out of it.

A Humongous Alarm Clock

A Moose Head

A spray bottle

This is mine-A flower pot with flowers. Birds eye view

Front View

It was fun.

Last thing I have to do is spray it with a clear coat.

Spring Door Decoration

I wanted to find a springy door ornament.

So I went to Michaels Crafts Store and found the pretty green basket and bouquets of tulips.

Put a foam block in the bottom of the basket and cut the tulips apart and arranged the flowers in the basket.

I just put the leaves throughout.

I am really happy with the way it turned out.

Something a little different and bright and happy.

A little closer.

It shows up nicely on the black door.

My Little Sketchbook

Gennine is one of my most favorite blogs and artist.  She showed all of her wonderful sketchbooks one day and it inspired me to grab this book that my friend Pam gave me.  The covering is tough and it has the word "Create" on it.  The cover feels like suede.  I started sketching some ideas for pictures or projects and have been carrying it with me.  I have come up with more ideas, maybe because I have a place to put them-right now, instead of later.  If ever I need a pick me up I head over to Gennines blog...it's great.  If you want to see her sketch books it is the February 17th post. 

Anticipation

Anticipating that warmth will come some time my men went and got some wood and a stand to hold it.

It's stacked up so nice and neat.

This was some kind of bug that was eating the wood of this tree.

I thought it was interesting to see the trail that it left

Don't know if it was an emerald ash bore or something else.

In a couple months the fireplace will be opened up and the furniture put back into place.

The Thorn Birds

In 1982 this was a made for tv mini series.

I couldn't wait each night for it to come on.

When I was ordering for Christmas I saw this and got it for myself.

It is many hours long and I started watching it last week and it was as good as I remembered. 

It has 3 DVD's and the 3rd has a commemorative documentary-The Thorn Birds:Old Friends, New Stories.

I feel that should be very good. 

I always like the "What are they doing now" shows. 

New Herb Book

Better Homes and Gardens came out with a new herb book in 2012.

As usual with BH&G it has wonderful pictures and so informational.

This is the front cover.

The herbs are in alphabetical order and it provides much information about that herb in short and concise form. 

I thought this gadget was great to carry heavy pots.  That would help save your back.

This is my idea of a dream herb garden with brick paths.

Fabulous!

Here is the real thing with a key to the herbs used.

These are just a very few of the pages in the book.

I know I will get a lot of use out of it.

Thank You BH&G!

3-D Module

3D design project.  Not some of my best work, but I got it done.  The assignment was to have modular pieces, at least 12 of the same one.  Scored, cut and glued together in a design.  I think mine looks "Seussical" a building that is crooked or leaning.  The tacky glue is very sturdy and it stayed together very well.  This is the front.

And this is the back.

Oh Well.

my space

This is where I study, paint, papercraft, etc.  I love this spot.  I have a nice bright light, a fabulous view of what is going on outside.  A big sturdy table and many times a cat or two or three keep me company.  I am very blessed.

18

Happy 18th Birthday to my youngest.  I can't believe that it's here. 

Lookee Here

You can tell it has been a mild winter in Indiana, I still have pansies blooming.  One time I threw some water in there and then the only other water is what snow and rain flew on them.  They look a little weak but still are showing off their colors and sweet faces. 

Where Women Create

Last week I picked up the Feb, March, April issue of Where Women Create.  It is jam packed full of inspiration, ideas, information, quotes and pretty, pretty pictures.  As you can tell I really enjoy it.  It can just be found at the grocery store.  If you want to upgrade your studio and need some pictures this book can get you jumpstarted.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

birthday card

A card I made for Glenda, a co-workers birthday.  I used some peel-offs from Magenta, some patterned paper and some pretty yarn.

Movie Review-Leap Year

This movie is about a woman's boyfriend who is going to Dublin Ireland for a convention.  She thought he was going to propose to her before he left but instead gave her some diamond earrings.  There is a tale that says on the one day of leap year in February it is acceptable for a woman to propose to a man.  She decided to go to Ireland to propose.  She has all kinds of problems getting there via plane, boat etc. and employs a handsome Irishman to drive her to Dublin.  It was quite an adventure to get there and she becomes attracted to him.  I think that Amy Adams is a great actress, I love watching her face and I am always a sucker for romance.  See what you think.

Movie Review-Marmaduke

We had recorded this movie because HBO gave a free weekend.  It was a lighthearted comedy, and as I say you can't go wrong with animals that talk and dance.  Marmadukes family had moved to California and he was trying to fit in the best he could being a big and tall dog.  They would go to a dog park where they had the dog cool guys, nerdy dogs, silly dogs, dogs that exaggerate.  He got into the "cool" crowd but it just went to his head.  He had a party while the family was away and they tore up the house.  It had a fun ending.  We got lots of laughs and it's great to watch with boys-no matter what-farts are always funny. 

Take a look:

Framed

Picked up my framed pictures today.

Northside Gallery did a beautiful job.

It really sets off the picture.

This picture just makes me smile.

"Sebastians Fantasy"

Such the Colors

I put this salad together so that we can pack it in our lunches each day.  Adding that purple cabbage gives it such a pleasing look.  I used my salad spinner so that it would stay nice and dry.  Put some chicken on it and something crunchy-I used tortilla strips and its quite tasty and healthy.

I love potato soup.  The Pampered Chef chopper works great on potatoes and gives it a decorative edge too.

Boil the potatoes with some salt and a few chicken bouillon cubes.

Make a nice white sauce to add and you have some soup to take for lunch during the week along with the salad. 

As Mr. Food says......Oh so good!